Venetian blind bottom bar



Dec. 21, 1954 H. NELSON 2,697,487

VENETIAN BLIND BOTTOM BAR Filed June 3. 1948 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HARRY 4 5150 AW] WfM H IS ATTORNEYS Dec. 21, 1954 Filed June 3. 1948 H. NELSON VENETIAN BLIND BOTTOM BAR I In. 7/ ,5

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HARRY NELSON HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oflfice 2,697,487 Patented Dec. 21, 1954 VENETIAN BLIND BOTTOM BAR Harry Nelson, New York, N. Y., assignor to Lorentzen Hardware Mfg. Corp., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 3, 1948, Serial No. 30,848

6 Claims. (Cl. 160-173) This invention relates to Venetian blinds, and more partcilcularly to bottom bars and associated parts for such blin s.

Venetian blinds are customarily provided with a bottom bar which is heavier than the intermediate slats, this bar providing the weight necessary to cause complete lowering of the blind when the lift cords are released to pass freely through the cord lock. In addition, the bottom bar should have considerable rigidity, firstly to prevent any noticeable sagging of the bar between ladder tapes when the blind is raised and the bar is carrying the load of the slats which are then stacked on top of it and, secondly, to prevent bending of the bar when the blind is allowed to fall into extended position and the bar is arrested suddenly by the ladder tapes upon reaching lowermost position.

In the form shown of the present invention, the bottom bar is comprised of an assembly of rolled and stamped sheet metal parts. The body of the assembly is formed of a relatively heavy rolled sheet metal channel extending for the width of the blind and having upwardlyand inwardly-turned lateral edges, the shape of the channel being such as to embrace the lowermost intermediate slat of the blind, that slat serving principally as a cover to hide parts of the bottom bar assembly. Combined lift cord and ladder tape anchor fittings contained within the body of the bottom bar, beneath the slat or cover of the bottom bar assembly, together with end fittings for closing the ends of the channel-shaped body and retaining the slat in position, substantially complete the bottom bar assembly.

The end fittings may be provided with horizontallyprojecting gudgeon pins for engaging hold-down brackets, or may be provided with openings for receiving portions of hold-down brackets. The bracket-engaging portions of the end fittings may be raised somewhat above the longitudinal axis of the bar to aid in tilting the blind.

At times the end fittings are engaged by the hold-down brackets.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved, rigid, durable, easily-assembled metal bottom bar for Venetian blinds.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved Venetian blind bottom bar that may be fabricated economically of rolled and stamped sheet metal parts, preferably held in assembled relation by the interfitting of the parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide for Venetian blinds equipped with hold-down brackets, a bottom bar that will aid in tilting the intermediate slats towards closed position.

A further object of the invention is to generally improve Venetian blind bottom bars.

Further objects and objects relating to details and economies of construction, manufacture, assembly and use will more definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

My invention is clearly defined in the claims. In the claims, as well as in the description, parts may at times be identified by specific names for clarity and convenience, but such nomenclature is to be understood as having the broadest meaning consistent with the context and with the concept of my invention as distinguished from the pertinent prior art. The best form in which I have contemplated applying my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower portion of a Venetian blind, including a bottom bar in accordance with the present invention, an end fitting of the bar being shown in exploded relation.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the end fitting shown in Fig. 1, with a gudgeon pin added to the fitting.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bottom bar shown in Fig. 1, the cover of the bar being omitted and one edge of the bar being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4 of Fig. 3, the cover for the bar and the ends of the lift cord and ladder tape being added.

Fig. 5 is an inverted perspective view of the bottom anchor for the lift cord and ladder tape anchor, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the ends of the lift cord and ladder tape anchor being also shown or indicated.

Fig. 6 is an inverted perspective view similar to Fig. 5 of a second form of ladder tape anchor, for use with so-called four lift cord blinds.

Fig. 7 is an inverted perspective view similar to Fig. 5 of a third form of anchor for the ladder tape and lift cord, that may replace the anchor shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a second form of end fitting for use in the bottom bar shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a hold-down bracket for use with the end fitting shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation of a Venetian blind having a bottom bar and a hold-down bracket in accordance with the present invention, the lower corner of the blind and the adjacent portions of the window frame being shown.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic vertical section showing the relation of a bottom bar and end fitting with the hold down bracket.

Fig. 12 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view showing a second form of hold-down for use with the end fitting shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is an elevation similar to Fig. 10, the window frame being equipped with a hold-down of the form shown in Fig. 12.

Referring now to Fig. l, the Venetian blind includes two or more conventional ladder tapes 15 (one shown) supporting intermediate slats 16 (see also Fig. 10) in the customary manner. Lift cords 17, one of which is shown, are reeved through the blinds in the customary manner and pass downwardly through slots 19 formed in each slat.

The lower ends of the ladder tapes and the lower ends of the lift cords are secured to a bottom bar which is designated as a whole by 20. This bottom bar comprises a body 21 of relatively thick, rigid sheet metal and a cover 22 which is preferably the same as one of the intermediate slats 16 and is, in elfect, the lowermost slat of the blind. The interfitting of the body 21 and the cover 22 serves to retain other fittings of the bottom bar as will be explained later.

The body 21 is rolled from relatively heavy gauge sheet metal and is given the cross section shown in Figs. 1 and 4. As is seen in these views, the body is channelshaped, the base or bottom wall 24 having a very flat V- shape in cross section, and the longitudinal edges 25, 25h being turned upwardly and inwardly towards each 0 er.

The cover 22 is preferably formed of resilient sheet metal intermediate slat stock transversely arched upwardly as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4. Advantageously, the

I cover 22 is identical in all respects with the intermediate slats 16 and for ease of production it may be cut to length and the slots 19 properly punched for passage of the lift cords 17 on automatic machines at the same time the intermediate slats are formed. The relation of the body 21 and cover 22 of the bottom bar 20 is such that the cover fits telescopically within the body, the longitudinal edges of the cover underlying the longitudinal lips formed by the inturned longitudinal edges 25, 25 of the body.

Anchors 26 (one shown) are provided within the body 21 to receive the lower ends of the lift cords and the lower ends of the ladder tapes. As many of these anchors are used in each bottom bar as there are ladder tapes in the blind. Each anchor 26 is comprised of relatively rigid one-piece sheet metal stamping which is best shown in 3 Fig. 5.

The anchor 26 has a central portion 27 provided with a centrally-located hole 29 'for passage of a lift cord 17. A tubular flange 30 (see also Fig. 4) projects upwardly about the hole 29 and is formed from a portion of the metal displaced in forming the hole. In addition, the central portion 27 of the anchor maybe'provided with a transversely-extending tongue 31 and longitudinallyextending tongue 32, each of these'tongues being struck downwardly from'the central portion of the anchor and extending parallel to the lower face thereof and one of these tongues being positioned at each side of the hole 29.

Side portions 34, 34of the.anchor'26.extend outwardly and slightly downwardly from each side of the central portion '27, these side portions being similar. Eachof these portions is provided with a pair of confronting fingers 35 and 36 which .are struck downwardly from each side portion 34 and extend'parallel with'the under face thereof as shown in Fig. 5. The finger 35 is preferably of greater length than the finger 36, :these fingers being adapted and proportioned to receive thelooped end-of a ladder -tape branch, after the fashion explained in detail in my pending application S. N. 771,981,.filed September 3, 1947, now U. S. Patent 2,589,846. The outer edge of each side portion'34 is provided witha shallow recess 37 extending oppositethe fingers 35 and 36 and adapted toreceive a ladder tape branch as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5.

The endflanges 39, 39 of the 'sideportions 34 of the anchor 26 are directed downwardly and the lower edges of these flanges are cut at an angle to correspond with the inner surface of the base 24 of the body21 asindicated in Fig. 4. The end flanges 40, 40 of the central portion 27 of the anchor 26 are formed somewhat narrower-than the remainder of the central portion'27 and aregivena slight downward inclination.

An end fitting 41 is provided for each end of the bottom bar .20. This end fitting, which is 'bestshown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a base 42 and an end flange 44. The base 42 is formed with a fiat V-shaped cross section corresponding with the bottom 24 of the bar body 21. Up

wardly-projecting flanges 45, 45 extend substantially at right angles to flange 44, being tapered or converged slightly and the base 42 being so proportioned as to telescope within the end of the bar body 21 and resist withdrawal due to the slight taper of these flanges which causes the fitting to wedge within-the body. 'Theinner end of the base 42 is provided with apair of upwardlyand longitudinally-directed flanges 46, '46, these flanges serving to support theend of the cover 22 against collapse within the body 21.

The end flange 44 of the end fitting 41 extends upwardly in a vertical plane from the base 42 and has an outline corresponding with the cross sectionof the assembledbar body 21 and cover 22. The flange 44 projects slightly above the cover 22 and serves to prevent fortuitous displacement of the cover relative to the bar body 21.

The end flange 44 of the end fitting 41 may be provided with a centrally-located round hole 47 (for receptionof a gudgeonpin 49, which is shown imposition .in Fig. 2. A second aligned hole 50 of somewhat smaller diameter may be provided in a flange .51 struck up from the central portion of the base 42. The gudgeon pin 49,-which may be applied when the bottom bar is to be used in conjunction with hold-down brackets to prevent the blind .from flapping in the wind, has a uniform diameter up to flange '51. Then the diameter stepsin to conform with smaller hole 50, providing the pin with a shoulder which abuts against flange 51. After insertion of the pin, the inner end 52, which is split by a longitudinal slot, may be spread slightly, similarly to a cotter pin, to retain the pin in position. If desired, the holes 47 and 50 may be provided in all end fittings 41 and the gudgeon .pin 49 inserted only in those cases where it will be needed.

Lengths of small metal channel 54 may be inserted within the body 21, extending between adjacent anchors 26 and extending between the anchors and the end fittings 41.. The metal channel 54, which is cut to fit between adjacent fittings of the bottom bar, has a base 55 formed to correspond with the central portion of the bottom 24 of the bar body 21 and has upstanding legs adapted to extend between the bar body and the underside of the central zone of cover 22. The channel 54 serves to stiffen the bottom bar against bending, to reinforce the cover 22 against collapse within the body 21 and, by pressing upwardly on the underside of the cover, tomaintain the edges of the cover in frictional engagement with the underside of the inturned edges 25, 25 of the body.

Channel 54 also aids in preventing displacement of the anchors 26. This channel fits on each side of the .end flanges 40, 40 of the anchors 26 and against the vertical portions of the flanges 46, 46 of each end fitting 41. The base 55 of channel 54 rests in nested relationship upon the similarly shaped central portion of the bottom 24 of the bar body 21, thereby tending to center the channel in the body.

In the assembly of the bottom bar 20 in a Venetian blindythe intermediate slats 16 and lift cords 17 are assembled with the ladder tapes 15 in the usual manner. The ends of the lift cords 17 are passedthrough the slots 19 of the cover 22 and thence through the hole 29 of an anchor 26. In order to secure the lift cord 17 to the anchor, the cord is then passed about the stem of tongue 32 and thence beneath tongue 31 as indicated in dot-dash line in Fig. .5. The spacing of the tongues 31 and 32 from the center portion 27 of the anchor may be such as to cause thetongues to resiliently press the cord against the center portion 27. The individual endsof the branches of the ladder tapes'lS, which have'been previously folded back upon themselves and secured as by staples 15a to form loops, are :then engaged with the .fingers '35 and 36 of each anchor 26, the loop first being inserted on the longer finger 35-and'then extended onto the shorter finger 36, each ladder tape end being permitted to lie within the recess 37 formed at each edge of the anchor.

The cover 22 and anchors 26 may be then telescoped relative to the bar body 21, the channels 54 which have been cut to the proper length, being inserted between adjacent fittings at this time. After the cover 22, and

the body21 have been telescopically assembled, the end fitting-41 for each end of the bar may be inserted and .forced into position to close the ends of the bar and to prevent fortuitous movement of the cover relative to the body.

The above-described assembly has the necessary strength and is easily assembled fromits component parts. Each anchor 26 is further held against longitudinalmovement within the'bar 20 by the tubular flange '30 which projects upwardly through the slot 19 inithe cover 22.

When the bottom bar, herein described, is used with a four lift cord blind, the anchor 57, shown in Fig. 6, may be substituted .for the anchor 26 previously described. In a'four:lift cord blind, two cords are reeved through the blind 'in U-shaped manner, giving four legs which give rise to the expression four'lift cord." Each cord is anchored to the head bar of the blind, extends downwardly through the slats, lengthwise of the bottom 'barfor a distance, then upwardly through the slats, and .thence along the head bar and through the cord lock.

Theanchor 57 is similar to anchor 26 except that the central portion, instead of having tongues 31 and 32, is provided with a cord guide 60. This guide comprises a U-shaped body 61 having its base secured to the underside of the centralportion 62 of .the anchor by tabs struck therefrom and clinched over the base of the cord guide body. A pulley 64, rotatablymounted on a transverse rivet 65 below the lift cord :holein the anchor 57, receives the lift cord which is then conducted along the interior of the channel 54, through the next adjacent anchor .57, and upwardly through the cord hole therein. The bottom bar is then assembled similarly with this anchoras with the anchor 26 previously described.

A somewhat different form of anchor is shown in Fig. 7, the anchor 66'there shown-comprising a'metal stamping having a flat V-shaped cross section adapted 'to underlie the cover 22. Pairs of pointed tabs 67, 67 are struck downwardly from each side -of the -body 68 of the anchor-66'and may'be bent upwardly as shown at the top of Fig. 7 to pierce and secure the-end of a ladder tape Zbranch. With this anchor itis unnecessary to form loops on the ends of the ladder tape branches as .inthe previously-described anchors. A central hole 69 is provided in the body 68 of the anchor to receive the lift cord, and a plurality of alternately oppositely-directed fingers 70 may be struck from the body at one side of the hole to receive the end of thelift-cord 17, these tabs then being bent down upon the lift cord to anchor the cord. The anchor .66 is assembled with the balance of the bottom bar similarly to the anchor 26 above described.

If desired, the form of end fitting 71 shown inFig. 8 may be substituted for the end fitting 41. This end fitting .71'has va base 72 generally similar to the base '42 of the end fitting 41. However, the end fiange 73 of this fitting extends somewhat higher than the end flange 44 of the fitting previously described so as to project well above the cover 22. The end flange 73 is provided with a round hole 74 with a slot 75 extending vertically upward to the upper edge of the flange.

The end fitting 71, which is received by the bar body 21 in the same manner as the end fitting 41, is used in conjunction with the hold-down bracket 76 shown in Fig. 9. This bracket is formed as a sheet metal stamping having a body portion 77 and a right-angularly-extending base portion 78, screw holes 79, 79 being provided for securing the bracket either upon the sill or jamb trim of the window frame in either upstanding or outstanding position. A downwardly-projecting prong 80 on the base engages the sill to aid in securing the bracket against displacement.

An inwardly-projecting tongue 81 is struck from the body 77 above the screw hole 79 therein and lies in a vertical plane. height than the diameter of the hole 74 in the end fitting 71; and the tongue may be introduced into this hole through the slot '75 when the bottom bar 20 is in level position, by pushing downwardly on the bottom bar so as to slightly stretch the ladder tapes 15. Upon the downward pressure on the bottom bar being removed, the ladder tapes retract the bottom bar until the bottom of hole 74 strikes the bottom of tongue 81. The hole 74 being of greater diameter than the height of tongue 81, the bottom bar is free to rotate to close the blind. To disengage the bottom bar from the tongue, the bar must, of course, be rotated to horizontal or blind-open position.

When the blind is tilted with the bottom bar hanging free, the axis of rotation of the bottom bar is at about the level of the inturned edges 25, 25. However, when the bar is equipped with the end fittings of Fig. 8 and these are engaged with the bracket of Fig. 9, an axis of rotation is established for the bottom bar which is substantially above the top surface of the bar and also substantially above the level at which the ladder tapes join the bottom bar. Accordingly, due to the elasticity of the ladder tapes when stretched, they will bias the entire blind in either direction towards closed position thus aiding in maintaining the blind completely closed when desired. This is in contrast to the ordinary blind which is biased towards open position by the weight of the bottom bar and completely closed with difiiculty.

For certain installations, the form of hold-down 82 shown in Figs. 12 and 13 may be substituted for the holddown bracket 76 shown in Fig. 9. The hold-down 82 of Fig. 12 is formed of a flat, nail-like member that may be driven into the jamb portion of a window frame. An outwardly-projecting portion of the hold-down 82 cooperates with the end fitting 71 of the bottom bar in the same manner as the tongue 81 of the bracket 76.

I claim:

1. A Venetian blind bottom bar comprising a metal channel having a base and upwardlyand inwardly-turned longitudinal edges, a resilient cover strip for the open side of the channel engaged with said inwardly-turned edges, fittings within the channel at intervals for receiving the ends of ladder tape, and a reinforcing strip positioned longitudinally within the channel and extending between and contacting the base and the central zone of the cover strip to bias the cover strip upwardly into frictional engagement with the inwardly-turned edges of the channel, the reinforcing strip extending between the fittings, the ends of the strip substantially abutting such fittings to prevent their longitudinal displacement.

2. For a Venetian blind having a hollow metal tilt bar or bottom bar, a ladder tape anchor adapted to fit within said bar, said anchor comprising a metal plate provided with a centrally-located hole for passage of a lift cord, and opposite side portions each provided with a pair of spaced bendable fingers struck from the plate and adapted to be bent towards the plate to engage the end of a ladder tape branch between the fingers and the plate, said fingers each being provided with a pointed end directed towards the plate and engageable within the opening in the plate formed by striking the finger therefrom.

3. A Venetian blind bottom bar, comprising: a metal channel of uniform cross section, said channel having a laterally symmetrical bottom wall which is of fiat V- shaped cross section, said channel having upwardlyand The tongue 81 is of somewhat smaller inwardly-turned longitudinal edges; a resilient cover strip for the open side of the channel engaged with said inwardly-turned edges; and a reinforcing strip positioned longitudinally within the channel and extending between and contacting the base and the central zone of the cover strip and biasing the cover strip upwardly into frictional engagement with the inwardly-turned edges of the channel, said reinforcing strip having a bottom portion of flat V-shaped contour similar to, and resting upon, the bottom Wall of the channel in nested relationship.

4. A Venetian blind bottom bar, comprising: a metal channel having a base and upwardlyand inwardlyturned longitudinal edges, said channel being of uniform cross section throughout its length and having a bottom wall of fiat V-shaped cross section; a resilient cover strip for closing the open side of the channel, said strip being engaged beneath said inwardly-turned edges; spaced fittings within the channel for receiving the lower ends of ladder tapes and lift cords; and a reinforcing strip positioned longitudinally within the channel and extending between and contacting the base and the central zone of the cover strip to bias the cover strip upwardly into frictional engagement with the inwardly-turned edges of the channel, the reinforcing strip extending between the fittings and the ends of the strip substantially abutting said fittings to prevent their longitudinal displacement, the reinforcing strip having a bottom portion of flat V-shaped contour similar to, and resting upon, the bottom wall of the channel in nested relationship.

5. For a Venetian blind having a hollow metal bottom bar, a ladder tape anchor adapted to fit within said bottom bar, said anchor comprising a generally rectangular metal plate having opposite side portions each provided with a pair of spaced, opposed, bendable fingers struck from the plate and adapted to be bent towards the plate to engage the end of the ladder tape branch between the fingers and the plate, the fingers on each side of the plate being spaced a distance slightly greater than the Width of the ladder tape branch and being generally straight and terminating in a short, pointed end projecting at right angles towards the plate, the pointed ends of said fingers being engageable within the openings in the plate formed by striking the fingers therefrom by bending the fingers into clamping relationship with the ladder tape branch.

6. For a Venetian blind having a hollow metal bottom bar, a ladder tape anchor adapted to fit within said bottom bar, said anchor comprising a generally rectangular metal plate having opposite side portions each provided with a pair of spaced, opposed, bendable fingers struck from the plate and adapted to be bent towards the plate to engage the end of the ladder tape branch between the fingers and the plate, the fingers on each side of the plate being spaced a distance slightly greater than the width of the ladder tape branch and being generally straight and terminating in a pointed end projecting at right angles towards the plate, the pointed ends of said fingers being engageable within the openings in the plate formed by striking the fingers therefrom by bending the fingers into clamping relationship with the ladder tape branch, and the opposite side edges of the plate each having a shallow notch formed therein opposite the space between the pair of bendable fingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,668,953 Erickson May 8, 1928 1,898,940 Cooper Feb. 21, 1933 2,152,068 Lawson Mar. 28, 1939 2,170,938 Carreras et al. Aug. 29, 1939 2,260,726 Rosenbaum Oct. 28, 1941 2,402,769 Nelson June 25, 1946 2,485,217 Semilof Oct. 18, 1949 2,491,181 Hunter Dec. 13, 1949 2,508,742 Bell May 23, 1950 2,534,080 Stuber et al. Dec. 12, 1950 2,573,163 Thomson Oct. 30, 1951 2,618,329 Nelson Nov. 18, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14.109 Great Britain A. D. 1898 

